Adaptistration: The 8/26/2014 edition of Slate published an article by columnist and Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts Interim Director, Howard Sherman that examines the decision by South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Junior/Senior High School administrators to cancel an upcoming production of Monty Python’s Spamalot by Eric Idle due to what the school’s principal, Jesse Smith, described as the musical’s “homosexual themes.” Smith’s decision was upheld by South Williamsport Area School District administrators even after Sherman’s article produced evidence that the principal and school superintendent, Dr. Mark Stamm, deliberately obfuscated and misinformed the public on their “homosexual themes” issue serving as a cornerstone for their validation.
3 comments:
This principal’s argument is the most ridiculous attempt at justifying what is blatantly sexual orientation-based discrimination. You could make the same case for just about any play involving “violence” or fighting of sorts and say that children shouldn’t have to feel forced to act out violent actions onstage that might go against their personal beliefs of peace and happiness. Or whatever. Theatre is make-believe, and that means that casting a kid in a “play with homosexual themes” isn’t an incitation to the depravation that OBVIOUSLY characterizes “homosexual themes.”
It is true that the high school has a right to choose the production that they put on, and taking the kids’ needs in consideration is wonderful and important. It’s just unacceptable that that decision comes in the form of and guided by unjust discrimination. The fact that the play was selected in the first place and then set aside shows that this truly is a case of censoring, and should be treated as such.
Living in Pittsburgh its hard to remember how behind some of Pennsylvania is. This goes beyond artistic right. Growing up I think we are all taught that everyone's opinion is valid. I stopped thinking that was true a long time ago. It will never be a valid opinion that homosexuality is wrong. Never. I realize that being raised that way it is a hard thing to break a culture out of, but teaching our children that it is okay is the first step. The children shouldn't have an ethical or moral dilemma, it shouldn't bother them. It is the principle. His dilemma is that some of these kids might be being raised in homes where they are taught this is not okay. His dilemma is that he needs to help these kids get past their parents teachings. Especially because there may be gay kids at the school and they shouldn't have to be in an environment where it is not okay.
It's unfortunate that things like high school censorship exists throughout the country. This particular case reminds me of a high school in one of the towns neighboring where I grew up that suspended their production of Rent for similar reasons. There was such a public outcry that the school administration eventually did the right thing and allowed the production to continue, and I hope the same happens here. Anyone involved in theatre will tell you that something like the 'homosexual content' of a show isn't anything that gives moral or ethical dilemma, high schools put on shows because the students enjoy doing it. Denying that to students is the real tragedy in this story.
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